We had the good fortune of connecting with Paulette Victor Lifton and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Paulette Victor, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
From Runaway to Hollywood Powerhouse: Paulette Victor Lifton’s Bold Leap into the Unknown
I watched my diary pages swirl down the toilet. A year of teenage angst—gone with a single flush. That was my first day of my new adventure. At just 14, I was a runaway in Hollywood, and whatever image just popped into your head is probably right.
That year, I was a candy striper, comforting elderly patients through their final days. The day I bolted from my little house in the Valley, I was still in my crisp white nurse’s dress. (If only TikTok had been around—now that would have gone viral.) Falling from my mother’s grace was a hard drop, but stubbornness fueled my escape. It was terrifying. Men in flashy cars—yes, even teen heartthrob Bobby Sherman—offered me rides on Sunset Blvd. I couch-surfed with strangers (one even proposed marriage to my father on my behalf—yikes!). I went to parties where the name Roman Polanski hung in the air like an ominous fog. I was lonely, I was scared, but I pressed on.
Taking Risks: The Only Way Forward
Reality hit quickly: I needed a job. My first gig? A House of Pancakes on Sunset Blvd. I lied about my age—something I still do, just in the opposite direction now. I got fired on my first day for coming up short at the register. My second job? Carhop. Fired again. (Apparently, the food industry and I were never meant to be.)
I wanted to go home, but my pride wouldn’t let me. Instead, I took a job selling women’s cosmetics door-to-door. Just one problem—I was painfully shy. Sales were excruciating. Then, at a party, I met a man who seemed ancient—probably 35. I confessed my struggles with confidence. His advice? “Act as if, and the feelings will follow.”
Pretending to be confident? Now that, I could do. And that one piece of advice changed everything. Betting on Myself, Again and Again
At 18, I became the first DJ at the Rainbow Bar & Grill. By 24, I owned a full-service salon in West Hollywood. By 35, I had sold my business, pivoted careers, and was attending film school at night. At 38, I wrote and directed my first feature film. At 39 I opened my first post production facility in Santa Monica, Oracle Post with my then husband, Jimmy Lifton. Reinvention wasn’t just a survival strategy—it became my addiction. And every pivot came with a risk.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
People often ask, “What do you do for a living?”
My answer? I’m Zoolander! A Producer, Director, Writer, Voice Casting Director, Voice Director, Audio Description & Dubbing Producer, Supervising Sound Editor, Voice Acting Coach & Demo Producer—oh, and a Podcaster.
Some of my shiny résumé highlights:
🎙 Founder of Oracle Sound and Voice
🎙 Co-Founder of Voice Masters: The Art of Voice
🎙 19 MPSE nominations, 6 wins
🎙 5 Emmy nominations, 2 wins
🎙 3 SOVAS nominations, 2 wins
🎙 Producers Guild of America & MPSE Board Member
And my career is still going!
In 2024, I was honored with another Emmy nomination and an ASSG win for the Emmy and Annie-winning Netflix animation series Blue Eye Samurai, alongside my Co-Supervising partner, Myron Nettinga. I also won a SOVAS Award for Best Podcast Host (Tales from the Booth) and another for Audio Description Producer for the series Lioness. Now, I’m voice casting and directing an anime series—and loving every minute of it.
Was it easy? No. My journey was far from a straight line.
But my superpower? The ability to reinvent myself—many times over.
When I shifted from hairstyling to filmmaking, school wasn’t enough, so I sought out a mentor: life coach Barbara Deutsch of The Barbara Deutsch Approach. She taught me to be brave, connect with a film community, and just say YES! Through her workshops, I went back to school for filmmaking, which led me to transition into film and music video editing and directing. I went all in. I sold my salon, gave up my cushy house, and moved into a tiny garage apartment in Venice. On Saturdays, I cut hair in Brentwood and worked part-time in Nashville on music videos and commercials.
Then I met my ex-husband, Jimmy Lifton, who changed my life. He gave me my break as a feature film editor (hey, it was before we dated!). Together, we owned three post-production facilities, and he produced the films I wrote and directed. I started as a film editor but eventually crossed over into supervising sound editing. I worked on HBO award-winning documentaries, indie features, and network and cable TV series. Eventually, I moved into animation post sound, collaborating with Nickelodeon, FOX, Disney, and DreamWorks Animation on shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, Beavis and Butt-Head, Penguins of Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.
Then, my marriage and business partnership ended. I lost everything—our buildings, my savings, my retirement. Thank God.
Out of that, I reinvented myself yet again. I launched Oracle Sound and Voice and landed the entire Weinstein Company’s animation department and dubbing library. My dream of voice directing came true (yes, I used to dream about it!). They handed me four animated features right off the bat to adapt, cast, voice direct, and supervise the mix. Then they asked me to co-produce Spy Kids: Mission Critical for Netflix and launch the feature film Leap! theatrically.
I was suddenly directing celebrity talent—Meryl Streep, Ed Norton, Mel Brooks, Elle Fanning, and Kate McKinnon, to name a few. Through this endeavor, I found my producing, casting, and directing partner, Mimi Maynard. We teamed up on numerous projects, casting and voice directing features. In 2020, we co-founded Voice Masters: The Art of Voice, a premier voiceover school. We’re passionate about guiding actors—helping them learn the craft and land jobs through our casting whenever possible.
When COVID hit, I had the idea to start a free weekly interview and coaching series every Friday at 12 PM PST to help actors during the pandemic (and we’re still going strong!). It eventually became a podcast called Tales from the Booth. Mimi became another important mentor to me—pushing me further out of my comfort zone. I’m forever grateful to her for that. Her mantra, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get,” replaced “Act as if” as my guiding principle. Guess what? It works!
Being Taught by Example
My father, Paul Victor—a Holocaust survivor—taught me resilience. He became the head of MENSA, transitioned from corporate work to restaurant ownership, and became a writer at 55! Reinvention runs in the family.
I once asked him, “Is it normal that I change my career so many times?”
He smiled and said, “Well, yes! Just look at me.”
But let’s be real: success stories often sugarcoat the struggles.
I didn’t have parental support when I moved out—just a bag of groceries and $200 a month (my child support). I started as an assistant hairdresser in Beverly Hills, making $10 a day and tips. I was ashamed that I didn’t graduate high school and didn’t have money for college. But I did have friends, mentors, and unshakable determination. You cannot do this alone (that’s a hint for you!).
When I look back, the challenges were immense, but perseverance was my saving grace.
You know the saying: “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up”? Well, it’s true.
So, when you’re just about to bail on your dreams—DON’T!
I’ve realized that as my dreams evolved over the years, so did my definition of success. Everything we believe is “made up”—and success? It’s believing in yourself above all else.
Taking Risks: The Next Way Forward
The runaway girl who once flushed her pain down the drain has stood onstage, thanking hundreds of people for her first Emmy. She now works with celebrity talent, agents, and producers daily.
But the real joy?
Helping actors build their careers—coaching them to book roles, hiring them for projects, and making that life-changing call to tell them they got the part.
Today, as a mentor, I know that courage isn’t just about stepping in front of a microphone or camera—it’s about standing in your truth. The most powerful thing we can do is show up as our authentic selves, even in the face of fear.
If I can be the voice of encouragement for someone else—the way a stranger once was for me so many years ago—then every risk, every leap of faith, was worth it.
My next reinvention?
Certified manifestation coach and talent management company founder!
This year, I had the incredible fortune of meeting another great mentor, Jonathan Reiner, at That’s Voiceover Expo. Now, we’re teaming up to explore powerful ways to combine coaching and artist management—helping actors and creatives turn their dreams into reality.
Another journey for me is just beginning—and I can’t wait to see where it leads.
Because sometimes, all it takes is a few simple words from the right person at the right time to change a life forever.
I know that firsthand.
And I will never forget him.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve always got friends from around the globe dropping by—guess that’s what happens when you’re a travel junkie with an open-door policy. Being a local, I’ve got my go-to spots with a little extra meaning.
Birthday central? The OG Farmer’s Market (most call it The Grove, but real ones know). It’s laid-back, packed with killer food options, and perfect for casual eats and people-watching.
You have to do the Hollywood Blvd. thing—Chinese Theater, celeb handprints, the whole cheesy experience. You’ll cringe, but you’ll love it.
For a stroll with a side of boujee, Beverly Hills is a must. I’ll usually grab an overpriced martini at The Beverly Wilshire (because, Pretty Woman vibes, obviously).
Vintage treasure hunt? Magnolia Park in Burbank is a goldmine, and no visit is complete without hitting the iconic Smokehouse across from Warner Bros. Studios. (Yes, the garlic bread is that good.)
When people ask for Malibu, I take them straight to Malibu Farm at the pier—chill vibes, ocean views, and farm-fresh bites.
And since I’m always surrounded by actors, karaoke is a must. Roguelike Tavern brings down-home fun, but for a true honky tonk dive, we hit up the Cowboy Palace in Chatsworth—boots, twang, and all.
L.A. is all about the mix—glam, grit, and good times, and it’s my hometown.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Barbara Deutsch, Life Coach – https://www.thebarbaradeutschapproach.com/
Jimmy Lifton, Producer & former partner – https://www.worldwidestarship.org/
Mimi Maynard, Producing partner and Co-Founder – Voice Masters: The Art of Voice – https://www.voice-masters.com
Myron Nettinga, Academy Award-winning Supervising Sound Editor and Re-recording mixer
Website: https://www.voice-master.som
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Yelp: Voice Masters: The Art of Voice
